The gist
of my homily last weekend was: “This ain’t heaven.” Which is why, according to Michner, God gave
us mosquitoes. No matter how great life
here may be, those little buggers remind us that there’s got to be something
better.
In the
mean time, that does not stop us from doing our best to make this life a
blessing. We live in a state that some
refer to as, “Already/Not Yet.” Jesus
Christ has come and in reality, death and sin have already been defeated – the end
is clear – the battle is won. It is like
the mathematical certainty of the population of the United States and Europe is
headed for a sharp decline due to smaller families, contraception, and
abortion. At this point there is nothing
to be done except try to minimize the damage.
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
We can either participate in it or, for some strange reason, choose to
join those who have already lost.
That
being said, His Kingdom is not yet fully established here on earth. It won’t be until He comes again. We are living in the aftermath of war waiting
for our cities to be rebuilt. The
government is not yet fully established, order does not yet reign supreme. (This may be overstating the case a bit, but
I think it helps one imagine the state we are in. We are rejoicing, but not yet fully.)
So in
this next uber long paragraph of Lumen
Gentium (35), the laity, in particular, are given their marching orders
toward the building up of the Kingdom.
To aid us until the King comes to fully establish his rule, he sent us not
only a hierarchy but the laity.
Interestingly the document says that he gave us “not only the hierarchy” but also the laity to fulfill the prophetic
office to the world. Once again the
documents call the Church’s people to their proper roles. There are no passive members of the Catholic
Church and in this role, hierarchy and laity alike are held to the same level
of responsibility.
Once
again, whatever you are doing today, wherever you go, whomever you meet all can
be used to advance the Kingdom of God, bringing people over to the side of
life, freedom, and dignity. In fact, the
laity can do this more effectively because their efforts are, “accomplished in
the ordinary circumstances of the world.”
Of high importance is married and family life. (Today more than ever!) More often than not at the end of a wedding homily I remind a couple that their marriage is not just for them. It is for me, the servers, the people attending the ceremony, their future children, and all those with whom they will come in contact throughout their married life. They are going to live the inner life of the Trinity – love between two persons that is fruitful and becomes a third person, a community of love that spills over and nourishes the community now and in the future. “Hence by their example and testimony, they convict the world of sin and give light to those who seek truth.”
WOW! Think of that today as you are taking the
trash out, mowing the lawn, driving to work, loving your family, or going over
to the neighbors for beers and brats.
THIS IS YOUR CALLING and the purpose of marriage.
FURTHERMORE,
the Church foresees times when there will not be clergy present. For example, in times of persecution the
laity are called to supply sacred functions to the best of their
abilities. (Now that doesn’t mean trying
to consecrate bread or forgiving sins, but the door, in emergencies, is open
wider than most people think.)
“Let the
laity, therefore, diligently apply themselves to a more profound knowledge of
revealed truth and earnestly beg of God the gift of wisdom.”
Again I
say, “Wow.”
3 comments:
You did it again, Fr. V.! Truth in the context of beauty in those two paragraphs on marriage!
While a worthy life goal, I have to say, "Yikes, that's an awfully tall order for us married folks!" Sure gives us a dignity and a role commensurate with, but distinct from that of the consecrated life.
"FURTHERMORE, the Church foresees times when there will not be laity present." Did you mean clergy rather that laity?
Ah!
Brian!
Yes!
Thanks.
Just made the change.
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